Thousands throng Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi on Shravan's first day

Thousands of devotees visited Kashi Vishwanath temple on the first day of Shravan as Varanasi rolled out extensive crowd and security measures. The arrangements underline the month's heavy pilgrim turnout while expanding facilities, online darshan and transparent donation handling.Kashi Vishwanath temple, Varanasi (Photo: ITG)Thousands of devotees visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple on Thursday to offer prayers on the first day of the holy month of Shravan, as authorities put in place extensive arrangements to handle the rush, officials said. Shravan, also known as Sawan, is considered one of the most auspicious months in the Hindu calendar for the worship of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fasts, perform special prayers and undertake pilgrimages to Shiva temples during the month, with Mondays of Shravan usually drawing particularly large crowds.In Varanasi, temple Chief Executive Officer Vish Bhushan Mishra said the administration had prepared in advance for the heavy footfall. "The number of devotees rises sharply during Shravan, especially on Mondays and festival days. Separate entry and exit gates have been earmarked to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims," he said.According to the temple administration, drinking water, toilets, rest areas, medical assistance and information centres have been provided for devotees. A large deployment of police, Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel and paramilitary forces has also been made for security, while CCTV cameras and a control room are being used to monitor the temple complex.The administration has also installed zigzag barricades for crowd management, arranged e-rickshaws for elderly and specially-abled devotees, improved parking and sanitation facilities, and installed air coolers and ORS distribution points to help devotees deal with the humid weather. Mishra said devotees who are unable to visit the temple can watch live darshan through the temple trust's website, its official YouTube channel and other authorised broadcast platforms. "Special arrangements had also been made for the secure handling, digital recording and transparent accounting of donations received during the month," he added.With Shravan beginning on Thursday, the temple saw a large turnout of devotees, and the administration said measures covering crowd movement, security, basic facilities and online access had been put in place for the month. - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 30, 2026 17:23 IST